Inspired by the poetry collection book that Paul mentioned as his favorite at the Pavilion, I conceived the following idea for the outdoor pavilion wall: Waka poetry, one of the oldest forms of Japanese literature from 7th century, is more than words — it’s an emotional and spiritual expression that has influenced art, craft, and culture for over a thousand years. The most iconic type is the Tanka, which consists of five lines with a 5-7-5-7-7 syllable. Rather than expressing feelings directly, poets conveyed their emotions by depicting seasonal landscapes and fleeting natural moments. This technique gave rise to the deeply introspective and aesthetic qualities that characterize traditional Japanese culture. Among the renowned collection of the 100 Waka, we selected two to feature in the design. As it was challenging to include the entrire poem due to the space, we chose to highlight only the final two lines, traditionally referred to as the “shimo-no-ku”:

"The colors of the flowers,
Have faded away,
Meaninglessly,
I spent my days in the world,
While the long rains were falling."

Meaning: Komachi uses the image of cherry blossoms losing their color in the rain to express the impermanence of beauty, youth, and life itself. The poem’s layered puns link natural change to emotional and human aging. While time continues to flow, the poem affirms the power of art to hold a moment still and allow it to reach future generations.